NPL QLD Men’s Round 5 Review

National Premier Leagues \\ Photo Credit: Leigh Perspectives / Eastern Suburbs 1679870920,1679870946

Lions, Gold Coast United and Sunshine Coast Wanderers all sit level at the top of the league following an enthralling weekend of Round 5 NPL Queensland Men’s action.

Defending Premiers Lions move to the top of the table for the first time this season on goal difference following a 3-1 victory over a nine-man Peninsula Power at Luxury Paints Stadium on Saturday night.

Power lead at the break through a Josh Woolley header but their fortunes were turned on their head five minutes into the second half when Michael McGowan was sent off for bringing down Ryo Ono with the forward in on goal before Andy Pengelly converted the resulting penalty kick.

Pengelly had his second of the night four minutes later when he slammed home an effort from the top of the box before Matt Ridenton rounded out the 3-1 win with a strike from distance in the 88^th minute.

Power, who remain winless at the bottom league finished the match with nine men after Lewis Greenwood also received his marching orders midway through the second half.

A first half Cai Tipaldo strike was enough for Gold Coast United to knock Moreton Bay off their perch at the top of the table in a 1-0 win at Coplicks on Saturday night.

Carlos Saliadarre came up with a huge second half penalty save to deny Marquez Walters and send a United side who have only conceded once so far this season level at the top of the league.

Sunshine Coast Wanderers are the third side to finish the weekend at the top of the table with their undefeated record intact after playing out a 1-1 draw against Gold Coast Knights at the Croatian Sports Centre on Saturday evening.

Kyan Bryant put the Wanderers in front with a strike from the edge of the area before Pasquale De Vita equalised with a clever finish early in the second half.

Both sides finished with ten men after Liam Fitzsimmons was sent off for a two footed challenge on Tyson Martin in second half stoppage time with Bradden Inman also dismissed for his part in the resulting melee.

In Saturday’s other match Peter Klassen netted a brace on his return to his former club as Redlands United ran out 5-2 winners over Eastern Suburbs at Heath Park.

Guilherme Santana also scored two, while Ryo Emoto was also on target for the Red Devils who climb to seventh after picking up their second win of the season.

Brisbane City moved to within a point of the league leaders with a 4-0 win over Rochedale at Imperial Corp Stadium on Sunday evening.

An Uryu Nagata own goal put the home side ahead before Matt Thurtell netted a brace to move to the top of the goalscoring charts with five for the season.

Ginjiro Chiba put the icing on the cake with an 84^th minute goal for free-scoring City, who’s twelve goals so far this season are only matched by Lions.

Brisbane Roar Youth picked up their first win of the new campaign with a 1-0 triumph over Olympic in the final match of the weekend.

Young Roar Captain James Nikolovski scored the games only goal poking home from close range on the end of a corner for the home side in a result that sees Chris Grossman’s side climb to eighth on the ladder.